Prioritising health, safety, and environmental management across industries

By OEM Update Editorial February 8, 2020 12:57 pm IST

We run NEBOSH training courses as one of their few “Gold Learning Partners”, as well as our own Level 3 and Level 6 qualifications in Health and Safety.

Mike Robinson, Chief Executive, British Safety Council, explains that British Safety Council is a charity and membership organisation providing advice on health, safety, and environmental management. He also elaborates on levels of safety and how industries need to implement them for better workability.

Can you talk about British Safety Council and your work around the globe?
The British Safety Council is a charity and membership organisation providing expert advice on health, safety, and environmental management. Our vision is that no one should be injured or made ill through their work and our mission is to keep people as safe as practicably possible in their work, through education and guidance. We have over 5,000 corporate members based in over 60 countries.

Because we work with organisations around the world and across all sectors to help them create healthier and safer workplaces, we understand local cultures, practices, and regulations. The geographic and cultural experience of our expert staff means that we can share the latest international best practice with our members and clients in India.

The British Safety Council has been working with members in India for over 30 years, providing consultancy, training, and audits. In November 2017, we opened an office in Mumbai to increase our capacity to support our members in India, with products tailored to the local market, and to expand our campaigns and charitable activities there. A key focus of our work in India is raising awareness of the importance of managing health and safety risks in the workplace, where large sections of the workforce are not covered by health and safety regulations.

In November 2018, the British Safety Council launched the India Safety Leadership Group, a forum for its members in India to share best practice and expertise. We run workshops and webinars and provide training.

How do you see the acceptance of health and safety at work in construction and manufacturing in India?
Construction and manufacturing are labour-intensive the world over and the same principles apply in India as everywhere else. We are seeing more organisations in India wanting to improve their health and safety standards. Last month, the British Safety Council hosted the Sword of Honour and Globe of Honour awards in London — the most prestigious health and safety awards for those that have reached the pinnacle of health, safety, and environmental management. Forty-one companies from India won the Sword of Honour and the recipient of the highest numbers of Swords of Honour in 2018 and 2019 was the Indian real estate developer DLF (winning 11 awards in 2018 and 13 this year).

We recognise that there are challenges — the number of deaths in the construction industry in India remains far too high — but we are focused on working with a growing number of organisations in India. Although there is much more to be done, workplace health and safety in India is improving.

How can occupational safety be improved in factories in India?
I would encourage any organisation in India to undertake an audit of their health and safety — specifically the British Safety Council Five Star Audit. And for those starting on this journey of improving standards to achieve a five-star rating, we offer a pre-audit or “gap audit”. This provides a gap analysis for identifying the steps to be taken before an organisation is likely to achieve a five-star outcome.

Education and training are also essential to improving health and safety standards. We run NEBOSH training courses as one of their few “Gold Learning Partners”, as well as our own Level 3 and Level 6 qualifications in Health and Safety.

How does the British Safety Council implement OHSAS 18001: 2007 Occupational Health and Safety Management Certification?
OHSAS 18001: 2007 will be withdrawn in March 2021 and organisations are now moving to the new standard ISO 45001: 2018. Most of our members have already started making this change and are migrating to the new standard. The British Safety Council Five Star audit closely matches, but goes significantly beyond, the requirements of ISO 45001. We promote the adoption of health and safety standards, including the new international standard ISO 45001 through our networks, such as the India Safety Leadership Group, providing speakers at conferences, workshops and training and encouraging participation in our campaigns. Through our consultancy and audits, we support organisations to meet the very highest standards.

Mike Robinson, Chief Executive, British Safety Council